Grants power green technologies in Peak District

This is an archived press release

The battle against climate change has been boosted in the Peak District with grants to a renewable-energy village hall, a proposed hydro-electric plant and a schools action project.

The Peak District Sustainable Development Fund allocates £200,000 a year to help business or community projects that strengthen the environment and communities for the future. Its latest round of grant allocations included:

£32,500 toward a new village hall for Over Haddon including a ground source heat pump (generating energy from the earth), rainwater collection system, photovoltaic tiles to supply heat, light and electricity, and environmentally-friendly surface drainage

£25,000 toward a proposed Cromford Corn Mill hydro-electric project - a water-powered turbine on Bonsall Brook to generate electricity for the Venture Centre, Cromford, and sell to the national grid

£15,000 to help Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s Climate Challenge Project - offering schools activities on energy use, alternative technologies, and the impact of climate change on wildlife and the environment.

They will all be demonstration projects as one of the Sustainable Development Fund’s main aims is to spread skills and awareness so that other people can follow.

The Fund is administered by the Peak District National Park Authority, with grants allocated quarterly by an independent panel including businesspeople, environmentalists, community representatives and young people. Other grants went to:

North Sheffield Conservation Group - to launch a series of cycle festivals introducing people to cycling in the national park, free skills lessons - £1,000

Moorland Discovery Centre, Longshaw - to provide interactive information on the centre’s eco-friendly features, recycling, linking it to the ecology of the moors - £1,000.

The Panel’s chair Anne Ashe said: “These projects are inspiring - especially as the Government’s new Climate Change Act has just come into force to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy.

“They demonstrate that Peak District communities are environmentally-aware and want to help others achieve ‘green’ schemes. We are glad to be able to support projects that will help tackle climate change and ensure a vibrant future our area.”

The funding is made available by Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). National park sustainable development officer Richard Godley deals with applications. More details online at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/sdf or phone 01629 816312.